First Drive: Enthusiast-friendly 2018 Subaru WRX and STI

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

2018 Subaru WRX and WRX STI

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Evolution is the key word

With sales up by 36% in Canada only last year, the Subaru WRX and WRX STI (non-identical) twins are doing just fine, thank you. In fact, sales of these standout, all-wheel drive, sport compacts have grown 127% over the past four years, by far the best performance in a sport segment that is still growing, in spite of the current onslaught of crossovers and SUVs. No surprise, then, that Subaru has chosen to simply sharpen this winning pair and show it off in its element, on superb roads and backroads, but also a brand-new race circuit in British Columbia.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

A perfect match

The WRX STI (in front) and WRX look similar but their respective missions are more clearly delineated than ever. The WRX has plenty of power with its 2.0-litre, direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine, with a clear focus on value and affordability. The WRX STI is the performance flagship, aimed at driving enthusiasts, with more sophisticated components that complement the stout and venerable 2.5-litre boxer engine. Prices, for the WRX go from $29,995 to $39,095 while the WRX STI starts at $39,495 and goes up to $46,595 for the all-on Sport-Tech model. No overlap at all.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Glorious roads

The first day took our small group from Vernon, British Columbia, some 300 kilometres east of Vancouver, to the small town of Kaslo, on Kootenay Lake. This meant almost 400 kilometres of driving on ever-changing roads and a triple-cable ferry ride across the Columbia River. With a redesigned front fascia now shared by both cars, the quickest way to spot the WRX STI is to look for the red logo in the bottom right corner of its upper grille. On both cars, the lower grille has been enlarged, for better air cooling flow.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Less light but more air

The WRX STI also lost the so-called ‘fog lights’ that were long a familiar feature of its front fascia in favour of additional air intakes (the open mesh section at bottom right) to better cool the larger and more powerful Brembo disc brakes it gets for model year 2018. Surely there has to be a way of combining them in the same space.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

New face

The WRX (shown) and WRX STI get new front fascias that share that same general layout. While the upper grille is smaller and more slender, the lower grille has been enlarged, for better air flow to the engine and major systems. All the cars now have LED lights for high beam, low beam and DRLs. WRX STI models and Sport/Sport-tech versions of the WRX also provide steering-linked headlights.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Corner lights

In addition to the pivoting headlights, the Sport and Sport-tech versions of the WRX get an additional pair of LEDs set in the lower corner bezels that yield better lateral visibility and draw 72 percent less power.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Practical, quiet and safe touches

With the exception of the new face, the WRX shows very little change on the outside. It does share, with the STI, new integrated roof brackets to neatly mount racks and boxes. Yet, these are as invisible as the thicker (from 3.5 to 4.0 mm) front door glass and various other measures destined to make it quieter, along with stronger side body reinforcements. Both cars also get a new, folding rear-centre armrest, with cupholders. Visibility remains exceptional, with well-positioned exterior mirrors, narrow front roof pillars and marvelous, trapezoidal windows just behind.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

New displays and glossy trim

The instrument panel design is unchanged but narrow strips of glossy, quasi-carbon-fibre trim were added, on both sides. To good effect. Driving ergonomics are top-notch, with a well-shaped, manually-adjustable, flat-bottom leather wheel, a pair of solid column-mounted levers and three proper knobs for the HVAC system. The main instruments now have white numerals and red needles, a complete switch from previous models. Mounted top centre is a crisp, new 5.9-inch multifunction screen that offers several system and data displays.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Clear and simple

The new tachometer and speedometer have a more classic look and are just plain easier to read in all lighting conditions, with their white numerals and red needles. Same story for the smaller displays with a selection of data screens for the top rectangle.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Pick your info

The new multifunction display (MFD) screen offers three selectable information sets for fuel economy and drivetrain status in addition to this comprehensive turbo boost screen, topped by the time and current temperatures, inside and out.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Revised suspenders

Suspension tuning has been tweaked, on both models, with modified damper settings and spring rates, in an effort to improve comfort and stability, although the WRX STI has retained its firmer overall setup. Rear anti-roll bar diameter has also been reduced from 20 to 19 mm to better complement the new settings. The STI was a constant and unmitigated treat on the best of BC backroads, with sharp, tactile steering, superbly fluid transitions and impeccable stance and balance. And it does ride better over the rougher bits. Coarse pavement will raise noise levels, though.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

New binders, wheels and tires

All versions of the WRX STI get new Brembo brakes with bigger, 340 mm rotors in front and 326 mm rotors at the rear, all four now drilled to help them stay cooler and keep pads clean. Clamping them are bright yellow calipers with six pistons in front and two at the rear. Shown here are the new 19-inch alloy wheels that are fitted on Sport and Sport Tech models, with Yokohama Advan Sport tires in size 245/35 R19. The ‘base’ STI runs on 18-inch alloys with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 245/40 R18 tires.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Soft core sportster

On endlessly twisty and occasionally bumpy BC tarmac, the WRX felt invariably safe and stable. With the taller and narrower 235/45 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx standard tires, on 17-inch wheels, and softer suspension, the ride is cushier than in the STI with all movements and reactions slightly muted, in comparison. The electrically-assisted steering has been revised and is more compact and lighter with its motor and control unit combined, but it is still neither as quick (2.7 vs. 2.5 turns lock-to-lock), nor as direct as the STI’s superb hydraulically-assisted rack.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Tougher pads for top WRX

The WRX brakes via 316 mm ventilated rotors in front and solid 286 mm rotors at the rear. On the Sport-tech RS versions, they come equipped with Jurid brake pads that provide better power and fade resistance. Their calipers – dual pistons in front and single at the rear – are also painted red. The 245/40 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires and new 18-inch alloy wheels come with all Sport-tech models.

Recaro to the rescue

Deeper front bucket seats by famed supplier Recaro are standard in all STI Sport-tech versions and available with the new Sport-tech RS (Recaro Seats!) for the WRX. Their larger side bolsters and grippier ultrasuede and leather surfaces provide a welcome dose of additional side support for track sessions or spirited sessions on the proverbial asphalt serpent. They are also heated and offer eight-way power adjustments to the driver, plus whiplash-preventing head restraints to both front passengers.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Red belts reign in STI

All versions of the STI are now equipped with red seat belts that match the leather stitching and piping for all occupants. Thankfully, they are not as gaudy and certainly not as outrageously expensive as in several reputed German sport machines.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

A welcome touch

Door panels have been revamped on both the WRX and WRX STI, the latter getting soft leather trim, with red stitching, also for its armrests. In all cases, a refreshing change from the forever stark interior ambiance of the Subaru performance stalwarts.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Discovering Area 27

Our caravan made a most welcome stop at Area 27, a fabulous new motorsport facility carved out of the hilly landscape of South Okanagan Valley, alongside the winery-rich Osoyoos region. Once there, journalists were invited to drive the WRX STI on the fast, thrilling and technical 4.83-kilometre circuit or boot around a tight autocross course in the WRX, including a white WRX equipped with the CVT transmission that felt slightly out of its element. Better enjoyed on the road, this one.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Listen, follow and learn

Our group had the privilege of being tutored on the intricacies and challenges of the sixteen corners on the circuit by Area 27 president and founder Bill Drossos, and then shown how to tackle them at speed by the master himself. The WRX STI was a most willing companion, its trusty, 305-hp, turbocharged boxer engine joyously revving to its 6,700 rpm limit repeatedly, and the new Brembo brakes taking the punishment with only the slightest touch of fade after long sessions. With more time, I would have tweaked the now fully-electronic centre differential to quash on-power understeer in the tightest corners.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Good perches for the road

Standard in the WRX STI Sport are 10-way power-adjustable front seats with leather and ultrasuede surfaces that keep you quite nicely in place and comfortable on the road. If you plan to regularly take the STI on a track, though, an upgrade to the new Recaro seats might be wise, since lateral support quickly reaches its limit in hard cornering, especially for thighs and hips.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Proper pedal cluster

These aluminium pedals, with grippy rubber inserts, are a joy to ‘heel-and-toe’ in all STI models and all WRXs equipped with the manual gearbox. The footrest is solid but also a bit narrow at the top. Although the cable system has been revised on the manual WRX, shift action and feel are clearly better with the STI’s crisp and tight mechanical linkage.

2018 Subaru WRX/STI

Western hospitality

The troop’s overnight stay in the quaint and wonderful Kaslo Hotel, after a long day at the wheel of its squadron of 2018 WRXs and STIs was perfect, once again, if only for the return drive, bright and early, on wondrous highway 31 the next morning, headed for Osoyoos and then the Area 27 circuit. For history buffs, the Kaslo Hotel was first opened in 1896, during the heyday of gold, silver, and lead mining, rebuilt in 1958 and fully renovated in 2009.